The annual New Year's "Karuta Hajimeshiki," where the first hand of karuta is dedicated, was held at Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City on January 3, 2026. A "Karuta Princess" and "Dojo" (young girls) dressed in Heian period attire demonstrated their graceful card handling skills on the Noh stage.
Hosted by Yasaka Shrine, the event is dedicated to the deity Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who is said to have composed Japan's oldest waka poem, and this year marks its 54th year. Twelve women aged 10 to 22 belonging to the All Japan Karuta Association Kinki Branch took part in the ceremony.
The Karuta Princesses and young girls, dressed in colorful attire, faced each other in pairs and competed for the cards with relaxed movements, following the lead of the reader. In the following public performance of competitive karuta, as the first letter of the first verse was read, the cards were swept off the stage, causing a stir among the audience.
Mei Komura (11 years old), a member of the Ogura Karuta Club from Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture, who played the role of the young girl, said, "I was nervous, but I'm glad I did it beautifully." Karuta Princess Motoka Tsutsumi (22 years old), a third-year student at Kyoto University from Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, smiled and said, "It was difficult to pick up the cards while showing off my costume. I'm truly honored to have been able to take part in this traditional event at such a historic shrine."
